Proverbs 16:9–Plans Established by God

Proverbs 16:9–"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

2014 is upon us, a new year has arrived full of potential and promise.  My prayer for you this year is that you would see God's awesome blessings in your life and that you would see Him establish your heart's desire this year.  That is why this verse seems so appropriate today, New Year's Day.  Even the best laid plans require the Lord's input for success.  Because of this, I don't think that we can overemphasize the necessity for prayer as we consider and develop our goals for 2014.  For only through God will we be blessed!

John 16:33–He Has Overcome the World

John 16:33–"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the world you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world."

This statement comes right after Jesus has again prophesied His impending death.  Understanding this context adds a certain amount of girth to Jesus' assertion.  The heart of His affirmation is that there is a peace that He offers, a definitive and otherworldly peace.  But this peace is based on what Jesus has done, or more accurately to this verse, this peace is based upon what He is about to do.  But there is so much application here for us too.  There is so much comfort to be found here for us, that whenever we would we would face trial and tribulation that may come from evil, we know that we too can find comfort in Christ and peace in what He has done.

Praise be to God!

John 14:1–Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled: Believe

John 14:1–"Let not your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in me."

This begins Jesus' final message to His disciples in John, culminating in the High Priestly Prayer (John 17).  It comes at the beginning of this long discourse that Jesus, after prophesying His death again, comforts His disciples with this.  In this statement, Jesus desires to console His disciples–and us too!–indicating that overcoming trouble and trepidation is not a matter of trying harder or feeling better: it is about believing in God and also in Jesus.  Think about this as we prepare for 2014.

Matt. 11:28–Jesus Gives Rest

Matthew 11:28–"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

This is quite a statement for Jesus to make.  Jesus does not say that He knows where those who are heavy burdened may find rest, as if He were going to point them to a special vacation resort or something.  He doesn't say that this rest is about a place or an action at all.  No, He says that He will give people rest.  In no mean or ambiguous terms, Jesus is claiming to be the true source of rest to any and all that would come to Him.  Again, this is quite a statement!

Can He give rest to us?  Does He? Do we believe Him?  

This seems to be a good place to end this particular dialogue, simply putting forth these questions for us to ponder.  Yes, Jesus is the true source of rest; yes, if we come to Him in faith He gives us this rest; and yes, He gives this rest to all who would come to Him.

Let us think about that when we feel labored and heavy laden!

Psalm 103:1–Bless the Lord

Psalm 103:1–"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!"

Amen!  That's about all I can say in response to reading this verse. Yes, this is a statement of worship. And yes, it is poetic.  But more than that, this is a prayer; a request that God would grant us a heart and soul that wouldst utterly desire to worship His name.  In truth, this is a central component to the Christian message: that God would transform us in such a way that every part of us would sing out in absolute praise and adoration to His name.

This should be our own prayer, too!

Bless the Lord!

Luke 2:11-A Son Is Born

Luke 2:11-"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

The very heart of Christmas is summarized in this verse.  That on this day, Christmas day, we celebrate one simple, historical fact: a son was born in Bethlehem, who claimed, among many things, to be the Christ, God's very Som and foreordained Savior of mankind.  If there were an irreducible theological reality of Christmas it would be that we are commemorating and celebrating the birth of Jesus the Messiah whose exacting purpose was to save mankind from sin.  Let us place this at the centre of Christmas.  Amen!

Luke 2:6-7–The Birth Occurs

Luke 2:6-7–"And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."

As has been noted many times before, there are so many wonderful elements to the Christmas narrative, from the prophesies fulfilled to the angels singing.  But the heart of the message comes down to this basic element: the birth of a king in the lowliest of settings.  We should not forget the juxtaposition of this, that God Himself condescended to human form: the King became a servant.  This is the very essence of the Christmas message and we should remember it!

A Note On Christmas before Christmas

Family, friends, feasts, gifts, and...worship?

Christmas brings with it so many seasonal delicacies.  Be it the awesome food that we wait all year to devourer, the time with family that doesn't seem like such an inconvenience, and the quest for gifts. And while each of these could be considered one of the treats of the season, each of them pales in comparison to the true, deeper meaning and worth of Christmas: the birth of the Messiah, the Savior, Christ Jesus.

The heart and essence of Christmas ultimately lies in the birth of Jesus, the prophesied Messiah.  The reality of His birth should render a sincere adoration and worship within us. But how easily we are drawn astray to those other staples of Christmas with little regard for the weightier, more divine narrative at work in the Christmas narrative.

So, as Christmas eve is upon us I simply ask that we would all keep our focus securely fixed upon the greatness of God!  Amen!

Luke 2:13-14–Angels Singing

Luke 2:13-14–"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those whom He is well pleased.'"

Think of the scene: you and some fellow shepherds are out tending to the flocks one night when an angel appears in all his glorious splendor.  The angel tells you not to be afraid–a near impossibility considering the sight–and then he tells you and your friends that the prophesied Messiah has been born in a nearby town and that you should go and see Him as He is laid in a manger in swaddling cloths. But the, as if this weren't miraculous and awesome enough, a choir of angels appears and with loud, booming voices like peels of thunder sings out: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those whom He is well pleased."

Wow!  What a sight!

To be sure, there is an entire sermon series on this scene alone, however, I want to simply point to the chorus sung by the angels.  What a beautiful phrase and sentiment!  But it is brimming with theological weight and density.  It would be good for us to consider this as Christmas closes in on us.  Think about it: this choir of angels could have sang about anything but they chose this.  We should ask ourselves why?  Perhaps the answer will give us a good insight into who God is and what Christ did...

"Joy To The World."

This time of year is full of those seasonal songs that bring back memories of years past, family traditions, and the whole 'spirit' of Christmas thing.  But as this Christmas season ramps up to its eve, I suggest we take some time to consider the great theology of those old carols and hymns that have become such perennial staples in our lives.  Songs like, "Silent Night," "O Holy Night," and "Joy To The World" are just brimming with theology about the distinct and certain significance of Christmas and we would do well to, as we are singing these carols this year, to really think about the reality of the words and to ponder on the great gift of grace that was given to us in Christ!

Psalm 150:1-2–Praise the Lord!

Psalm 150:1-2–"Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens! Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness!"

This passage is from the last chapter of the book of Psalms.  It is an utterance of praise and it offers a great look into how worship could or, maybe, should be offered.  Consider the content of these brief verses: adoration, praise and adoration focused on addressing God's greatness and His great deeds.  In many ways, aside from being a great utterance of praise itself this is a wonderful example for how we should worship.

And while this particular post is not intended to go through the whole task of defining worship, it is enough to say that we would well to take this passage as an example to follow in our own praise.

Matthew 7:7-8–Ask, Seek, Knock

Matthew 7:7-8–"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."

Part of this statement by Jesus is about persistence.  Another part of it is about pursuing God.  And then there's the other part about the faithfulness of God for those who persistently pursue Him.  In some ways, the essence of the relationship between God and man is a dynamic one, meaning that our relationship to the Almighty is exactly that: a relationship.

Isn't it true that we sometimes forget this reality in our own Christian experiences?  How often do we think of God as a cold, static being that only expects us to live and behave in certain ways or to believe certain things?

There is so much here by the way of persevering in prayer and in pursuing God, but suffice to say that what God wants from us is a relationship of honesty and sincerity.  At the very least, we would do well to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking at God's door in faith.

Luke 1:67-70–Zechariah's Song!

Luke 1:67-70–"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets of old,"

This is only a portion of one of the beautiful praises in all of Scripture.  We read that an angel of the Lord came to an elderly couple who had been without child and prophesied that a son would be born, a prophet who would herald in the coming of the Messiah.  Zechariah, having been informed by the angel, doesn't believe in the prophecy that he and his wife would be blessed with a son.  As a result of this doubt, Zechariah is ridden with muteness, unable to speak until his son, John, is born.  But as soon as John is born and named Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit and utters this beautiful and profound song of prophecy and praise.  It is this utterance that I point you to today.  Consider the great adoration that Zechariah heaps upon the Lord!

James4:17–Knowing What is Right and Not Doing It

James 4:17–"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is a sin."

This verse and those like it (Luke 12:47-48; John 9:41; 2Pet 2:21) confirm one simple truth: that righteousness is not optional for the righteous. There seems to be a specific ethic espoused in Scripture for the people of God.  This ethic calls out from the very depths of our beings just as the Holy Spirit is living within us and calling out to us and compelling us to live according to the holy commandments.

But as the Scriptures exhort, the righteous life is not merely about eschewing the evil; it is equally about doing the good.  And this doing good demands that we do the right at all times.  Add to this the stipulation that if we know what the right thing to do is and we fail to do it, we fall into sin.  In other words, our knowledge of God and of godliness holds us accountable to live by His righteous standards.

We should not ever forget this basic, fundamental component to the Christian life as we strive to live righteously as God calls us to do!

1 John 2:23–The Son & Father Are Conjoined

1 John 2:23–"No one who denies the Son has the Father.  Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also."

This verse is an important assertion about the intimate relationship between two members of the Godhead, Jesus and the Father.  It is not unique in that it is affirmed and asserted throughout Scripture that one may not possess an honest belief in God the Father save through the Son, and vice versa.  The Son is the gateway to the Father (John 14:6), just as those who are in the Father must possess the Son as well.

Christmas, in reality, is a unique convergence between these two members of the Godhead, completed by the presence of the Holy Spirit who indwells Mary with a son, the Holy Son of the Heavenly Father.

We should not easily forget or neglect the real interconnected intimacy of the Godhead as we seek to worship God in His infinitude this season.

An Ode To Mary

The first chapter of Luke deals specifically with Jesus' birth.  And while the whole narrative is one of awesome majesty and beauty, this article is dedicated one of the primary facets of this wonderful story, that of Mary and her unique involvement in the nativity story.

Consider the scenario from her point of view:

You're a young teenage girl, betrothed to a man.  You're excited about your soon-to-be marriage, looking forward to becoming the wife of a good, godly man.  But one night a stunning angel named Gabriel comes to you and says something incredible.  He tells you that you will give birth to a child, which is a remarkable statement considering that you are still a virgin.  Moreover, when you ask the angel about this he says that the Holy Spirit will come upon you and that the child you conceive will be God's own Son.  Furthermore, this Son will be the Messiah prophesied and promised in the Scriptures.

What would your response be?  Consider the inconvenience, the audacity of God to impregnate you by His Holy Spirit.  Wouldn't you feel at least a little overwhelmed, if not angry with God?

But Mary responds in another way altogether; she utters a song of praise that is perhaps the greatest utterance of worship ever offered.  I highly suggest you find the time to read it this week, to consider Mary's situation as she offers this praise and worship. Spend some time with it this week: Luke 1:46-55.

Glory to God

Glory to God.  Despite this being at the the very center of the intended human experience, so few people either understand it or accept it at all.  But it is integral to our identity and our utmost purpose, recognizing that we were created in His image to bear His image.  In other words, God created us as testimonies, objects that praise His glory.  He did this not because He required praise–He had and has no need for anything.  Rather, He did this for our benefit.

In many circumstances and at several times in my own life, I can attest without overstatement that the most wonderful and fulfilling moments of my life were those in which I was glorifying God with my whole being.  Quite literally and as sincerely as I can convey in written word, I want to assure you that it was at these utterly fulfilling moments that God confirmed His Scriptures in regards to who we are and what God made humans to be and to do.

To the glory and honor of God; this should be and become our life's call as we seek to live a life of meaning and purpose that coheres with who we really are and are meant to be.

Remember this:  Glory to God!

Romans 8:1-2–No Condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!

Romans 8:1-2–"Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."

Praise God for what He has done in Christ Jesus!  Time here does not permit for the sheer amount of information I want to unload on this incredibly important and theologically-dense topic.  That being said, it needs to be said that this verse and the theology therein is at the very heart of the Christian message and it runs something like this:

The Law of God, which includes His perfect commands of righteousness for human begins to live by, condemns the person because on every person's own unrighteous, rebellious heart.  The Law, though, was never meant to save as much as it was intended to reveal God's perfect holiness as well as man's utter debauchery in our very hearts.  But God, who is rich in mercy and not wanting that we would be abandoned in our state, sent His Son, Christ Jesus, to die an atoning death on our behalf.  Now, through confession and belief in Jesus, we are freed!  Amen!

So, as Christmas season approaches, let us not forget this great mystery of God's grace in Christ Jesus!

Galatians 4:4-5–God Sent Forth His Son at the Right Time

Galatians 4:4-5–"But when the fulness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who are under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."

In all facets of life, there is something to be said about the importance of planning.  But even the best laid plans can be for naught if they are attempted before the appropriate time.  Think of all the great plans that we ourselves have considered or contemplated that, for whatever reason, were too-poorly timed to come to effective fruitions.

That is one of the many remarkable things about the gospel.  Not only is it God's perfect plan, but the perfect timing of the divine plan is a masterful stroke of eternal genius.  God waited centuries, from the sin of Adam to the birth of Christ Jesus for His plan to be put into effect.  This is utterly marvelous, absolutely incredible.

We should not forget this important part of the Christmas story, that it was God's great timing and plan that Christ would be born to save sinners.

Praise be to God!

Isaiah 7:14–The Virgin Birth Prophesied.

Isaiah 7:14–"Therefore the Lord will give you a sign.  Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel."

The profound reality of this prophecy is not so much about what it says as about when it was said. some 700+ years before the virgin birth of Christ.  This is historical information, verifiable by primary source historical documents.  This is why this prophecy is so amazing.  In truth, God was foreshadowing the story of Christ centuries before the events that were prophesied would come about. All I can say is this:

Thank You, Lord, for Your awesome plans for salvation that were fulfilled in Christ according to the prophecy in the Scriptures!

Can't Live Off Yesterday's Manna

Exodus 16:13-21 gives us the heart of a specific episode in the life of the Israelites as they are walking through the desert that can offer a fine and right principle for us as Christians.  In it, we see that the Israelites, hungry and sick of walking through the wilderness, are grumbling at God.  God hears their grumbling and responds by offering a daily meal of quail and manna, the bread from heaven.

The one stipulation is that the Israelites may not save up any manna for the next day; each day has its own manna.  Of course, the Israelites, as they are want to do, disobey the Lord's request and collect enough manna for the next day.  However, when the Israelites go to the manna the next day they find it full of worms, completely spoiled.

The point is that the people of God were to rely solely on the grace of God for their sustenance everyday.  Every single day was an exercise in relying upon the promises of God.  This is the principle for Christians that we need to get.

God desires us to rest upon His promises daily.  Every day must begin and end and survive with the assured reality that we are seeking after God, trusting Him that He will provide for every need just as He has promised to provide it for us.  This is a perspective, to be sure, but it is also a daily exercise in faith.

After all, we can't live off yesterday's manna!

What is Impossible for Man but Possible for God!

Matthew 19:25-26–"When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, 'Who then can be saved?' But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"

Throughout the New Testament, particularly in the mouth of Jesus, the limits of man are stated, affirmed, restated, reaffirmed, declared, exhorted, taught, and asserted.  And the chief limitation of man is in the highest: that man is wholly unable to achieve or earn a morally right standing before a holy God.  In more clear words, the human being possesses no strength of will or fortitude of character so powerful as to be able to earn or merit salvation upon himself.

The Jews of Jesus' day thought that if the laws were understood or articulated sufficiently then the human being could pull himself up by his moral bootstraps, so to speak, and be righteous.  Jesus, however, asserts an entirely different position: that man is wholly unable to please God in His flesh–remember these two statements: the flesh counts for nothing (John 6:63-65), and that man must be born again (John 3:3).

Quite plainly, it is impossible for the natural man to claim any righteousness or holiness of his own volition; it is not merely improbable to be so holy of character and will, it is utterly impossible.  This is central both to understanding the necessity of Christ but also for the human person to recognize the reality of his or her actual spiritual condition.  The great distance between the holiness of God and the depravity of man is not merely a difference of degree as much as it is a complete dissonance of constitution and kind.

We cannot please God because we are wholly unable to please or even choose to please Him apart from a primary Divine intervention that transforms and compels our beings to become inclined towards Him–again, remember that no one can come to God unless or until God Himself grants him or her to do so (John 3:27; 6:44, 65).

In no ambiguity, then, the whole of Christianity rests upon what God has done first.  Our election, our predestination, our conversion, our faith; its framework and impetus rests solely upon God's intervening in our beings and transforming our natural inclinations away from the flesh and to Him.  To be sure, this calls for nothing less than absolute praise at the overwhelming grace of God, and our complete devotion to His majesty.  After all, a miracle has occurred!  This is why it is such a profound thing to think that what is an impossibility for man is not only possible for God, it is amazing!

John 14:6–I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life

John 14:6–"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

This is one of those foundational verses that that is more polemic and assertive.  Jesus is, in the very least, asserting a stiff statement about who He is and His position in relation to God.  Additionally, He is consciously objecting any system of philosophy that would claim to have an 'in' with the divine apart from through Him.  To be sure, this statement is both unequivocal and unambiguous, leaving no question as towards what Jesus knew to be the road to God the Father and salvation on the whole. Additionally, Jesus doesn't make this claim lightly, understanding fully the ramifications of such an outlandish assertion.  But it is upon this claim that rests the whole of Christianity.  Therefore, let us consider it and let us make it foundational for our framework for life and everything it includes.

John 11:25-26–Do You Believe This?

John 11:25-26–"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he will die, yet shall he live, and everyone who live and believes in me shall never die.  Do you believe this?'"

To be quite honest, while anyone who has read my writing knows that I am more than willing to preach on about Scripture at a moment's notice, however, this passage in many ways speaks for itself.  As a result, I will only repeat the last phrase and ask that you would consider it prayerfully:

Do You Believe This?

Matthew 16:24–If You Want Jesus, You Have To Deny Yourself

Matthew 16:24–"Then Jesus told His disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let Him deny Himself and take up His cross and follow me.'"

This is one of the principle teachings of Christ, if not the principle teaching of Scripture.  In many ways, it is the singular focus of the Christian life, that we would deny ourselves.  And the denial of self is not merely giving up certain fancies; it is the complete transformation of who we are.  It is the dramatic renewal of intention, desire, and will, so that we would actually put God's will before our own whimsy. To be sure, though, the essence of this sort of denial is about devotion.  It is about replacement and reconciliation, that we would be renewed in our minds and in our hearts so as to be ever praising God in the very depths of our beings.  Additionally, this is more than a one-time event; it is a lifestyle transformation.  O that we would commit to such a change as this!!!

John 10:14-15–Jesus Knows Who are His

John 10:14-15–"I am the good shepherd.  I know my own and my own know me, just as my Father knows me and I know my Father and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep."

The very essence of Christianity could reduced to a single resounding question:

Do you know Jesus?  Do you know Jesus?

This is the crux of the issue in Christianity and it is on this simple question that I will leave this blog post.

Do you have a real relationship with the God of Holy Scripture, with Christ Jesus?

Matthew 22:15-22–Whose Likeness Is On This Coin?

Matthew 22:15-22
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

This is one of the most famous passages in the Gospels.  And we remember it, we know what it says.  Most of us can understand that Jesus is answering the questions of people more interested in catching Jesus make a mistake than hearing what He actually has to say about it.  We can also understand that Jesus' response is both clever and convicting.  However, while the question that the Pharisees do ask is a valid question, even if it does betray the hearts of the askers, it is the question that they don't ask that is the most striking feature.

Jesus answers the Pharisees with a question, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?"  To which they reply, "Caesar's."  Jesus then says: "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

Jesus assesses the coin by the inscription upon it; in fact, it is the image on the coin that defines the coin's ownership.  When Jesus replies to give to Caesar what is Caesar's, the pertinent responding questions should have been this:

What belongs to God?  Where is God's inscription?

Answering these questions are essential to the life of a believer/human being, therefore, I suggest spending some time considering these questions for yourselves.  I suggest checking out Genesis 1:27-29...

Romans 15:5-6–Cry for Unity with Purpose

Romans 15:5-6–"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Unity is a great thing.  In many ways it drives much of the human experience as we seek and define unity amidst the immense diversity that is always around us.  Humans seem to yearn for unification, it is, in many ways, the very thing that drive so much of our lives.  We can unify behind entertainment, like sports teams or favorite movie franchises, or we can unify behind a common goal or experience, such as the GLBT community or human rights.  And while there are a vast number of unifying principles or ideals, they are all paltry and counterfeit in comparison to the single most vital thing that unites all persons and peoples who have ever lived and will ever live (save for Christ who remains uncreated)–We are made to glorify God.

It's in our DNA, our very genes cry out in worship to the Creator of the universe.  And despite our best efforts to suppress or to misplace this reality, it is inescapable.  After all, even the atheistic artist can compose beautiful and intelligent art that, by its very nature, worships the Creator!  But as in this human experience we are faced with the proposition of either discovering or manufacturing unity in diversity, we are faced with the dilemma: what unifies us?

The answer, as is so often true of honest questions, relies solely on the singular and profound theological reality of our existence and our identity.  Every human that has every lived was born bearing the image of God.  This is the utmost truth about us.  It is this astonishing truth that provides for us the very essence of unity under the strains of overwhelming diversity.  For the image of God is born just as much in the life of the drunkard as it is on the saint.  It often turns out that what caused the drunkard to turn to drink in the first place was that he either never knew whose image he was meant to bear or he is more interested in bearing his own rather than His.  In both cases, the fault, it turns out, is not on the One whose image is borne, but on he who illegitimately bears it.

In both cases though, that of the saint and the drunkard, they are, ultimately, unified in the fact that they each bear His image.  Therefore, unity is only held at the distance of recognition: that we would recognize the reality of our unity and that this recognition would only be crystalized through a unified glorification of God!  That is what the aforementioned verse is about, and we would do well to pray for the very same thing that Paul is praying for, too!

Hebrews 1:1-2–God Has Spoken To Us In His Son

Hebrews 1:1-2–"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our  Fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also created the world."

I love this passage.  There is so much here: history, prophecy fulfilled, and a precious statement about the character of Christ.  In truth, it is upon Christ Jesus' identity hinges the whole of Christianity.  We should never forget this basic, profound, and essential truth.  Because this is such a foundational and important point, I will only submit that it is right that we would read and digest this passage again:


Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our  Fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also created the world.

Matthew 1:20-21–Joseph Learns About Jesus' Parentage

Matthew 1:20-21–"But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit, she will bear a son and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.'"

While this is not the very beginning of the Christmas story, it is, in some ways, perhaps the most important part.  It is in these verses that Jesus' divine ancestry is conveyed and confirmed to Joseph, the man to whom Mary is betrothed.  Foundational to Christianity is the assertion of the Triune God.  Part and parcel to this affirmation is that Jesus is God incarnate.  He is not merely the best man to ever live, but He is God Himself in the flesh.  As this Advent season begins and Christmas becomes a soon-to-be reality, let us not forget this passage, but even more so, let us not forget what it means!